Improvement in cotton-presses



UNITEI). STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ASHCRAFT, OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, ALABAMA.

IMPROVEMENT iN COTTON-PRESSES.

` Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. |58, dated March (i, 1849.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THoMAs AsHcnAET, of the county of Randolph and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton lresses, of which the following is a full and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings of the same, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the machine, with the several parts in the position they would respectively occupy when a bale of cotton had been compressed, and the sides of the box removed preparatory to taking it out. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the line a: rr of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Y

rlhe saine letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the ligures.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the frame of the house which incloses the press; B, the i'loor of the second story; l), the roof; E being the ground or lower story, in which the screw and the lever by which it is turned are placed. The platen F of this press is made stationary, and is secured to the licor-timbers, a pivot projecting from its under side, which enters a corresponding cavity in the upper end of the screw, which is kept full of oil to lessen the friction. In the lower end of the screw a pivot is secured, which rests in a footstep, made in the usual or in any suitable manner. The body and thread of the screw may be made of the usual dimensions, and the thread may be made in any of the common forms, but I prefer a thread whose transverse section corresponds in shape with the axial section of a truncated cone, with moderately-inclined sides, and whose base is about equal to its height.

The press-box consists of a strong rectangular frame, G, which slides up and down between the fender-posts H, its sides passing through the iioor at either end of the platen. The lower beam ofthe frame of the press-box has a nut either formed in its substance or lirmly secured in it, through which nut the screw turns to elevate and lower the frame. The fenderposts H are held in place by means of the floor-timbers and the beams l, which connect the opposite ends of the i'rame of the building. lVhen the frame is elevated to the highest point, boards are placed in rabbcts a in the fenderposts, in the usual manner, to close the sides of the box, except a space above the beam I, through which the cotton is introduced into the press. The lower side boards rest upon the platen, and are held against the sides oi' the press-frame by props placed obliquely against them, the feet of the props resting in notches made in the floor. About one third (more or less) of the length of the side beams of the press-frame, measuring from the upper end downward, incline outward, making the space inside of the frame widest at the top. This form of the box in some measure relieves it from the friction caused by the lateral expansion ot' the bale after being reduced in bulk about twothirds of the amount it is required to compress it. The friction, after the bale has arrived at this point of compres sion, being so great in presses with parallel ends z to require considerable force to over come it, the benefits of this mode of construction may be extended to the sides as well as the ends, if it should be deemed advisable. lVhen the cotton has been compressed to the extent required, the props which hold up the side planks are knocked out and the sides removed. The bale is then roped, after which, in order to free it entirely from the press, one of the ends I of the box, which is adjustable, is moved back by knocking the wedges c out from behind it, when the frame is easily run up by turning back the screw, the expansion of the bale bein g almost suieient for the purpose without aid from the attendants.

As the pressbox moves between guides, instead of being stationary, as in common presses, it becomes necessary to have the adjustable end arranged in such a manner that it cannot easily be got out of place by either the ignorance or inadvertenee ofthe attendant, in order to prevent it from catching: under the beams I or the licor, and tearing them up when being raised or lowered by the screw, as would unavoidably happen if its proper adjustment depended upon the attention of those to whom this kind of work is usually assigned. I have accordingly placed this board between guides i, which allow it to move freely either toward or from the bale, but prevent it from moving laterally, which renders it impossible to place it wrong. The board is held up to its place by wedges c, which have shoulders formed upon them, that come into contact with a projeetion in the recess mede for the purpose, and which arrests them in the proper place, and prevents their ends from being protruded be youd the Sides of the lmnie, in which position they .vonid get broken themselves, and per hops break at the Sonie time sonic other part of the press.

The operation of pressing cotton being so well and generally understood by :d1 who have occasion to practice it, I do not deem :L particular dcsi'rription ofthe p roeessto bchere neeessnry, aS by using this nmchine it is changed iu no other respect than in the Superior fneiiity und convenience with which it is performed.

Hering thus described the construction and operation of' my improved cotton-press, what I claim therein as new, ond desire to secure by Letters Potent, is-

l. The combination of the movable end boord, l, its guides i, and supporting-wedges c with the moving packing-box G und size tiolmry pinten F, Substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein Set forth.

2. Constructing the press-box with the npper port of its sides :nid ends Slightly inclined outward, in the manner and for the purpose herein Het forth.

THOMAS ASHONA'INI.

Vv'itnesses:

T. il. AMES, 1;. (i. XV. Lmnmxg 

